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How would you test a toaster

We ask for requirements first (expected answer = whatever you think is OK)
We start with positive testing, not with breaking the toaster (negative testing)

Functionality TestingStart with requirements:
- works out of 110Volt power line (indicated by green LED light)- 4 levels of heat are available
- Level 1-5 minutes toasted
- Level 2-4 minutes toasted
- Level 3-3 minutes toasted
- Level 4-1 minutes toasted
- 2 slots are available
- Left slot could be used as a standalone slot
- Right slot could be used as a standalone slot

Then we do test cases (preferably one test case for one requirement)
1. 110V supply Plug into 110V plug green LED light is ON
2. 4 levels of heat Turn and count 4 positions are there
3. Level 1 heat Set level 1 and toast takes 5 minutes
4. Level 2 heat Set Level 2 and toast takes 4 minutes
5.
6.
7. 2 slots toasting Toast 2 slices at a time toasted normally
8. Left slot toasting Toast one slice in a left slot toasted normally
9. Right slot toasting Toast one slice in a right slot toasted normally

I would:
1. Try to get the requirements and infer from it the scope for test cases. I there wouldn’t a requirement, rely on common sense:
2. Perform positive testing (standard conditions concerning: quality and shape of bread slices to toast; feeding electricity parameters; surrounding air – temperature, pressure, humidity; surface, on which stands working toaster):
• Take the toaster at the room temperature (about 70F), plug into home electric socket, toast 1 slice of bread in the 1st slot only (standard exposure time). Without switching off the toaster repeat the procedure 20 times in sequence, compare quality of 20 toasted slices.
• Take the toaster at the room temperature (about 70F), plug into home electric socket, toast 1 slice of bread in the 2nd slot only (standard exposure time). Without switching off the toaster repeat the procedure 20 times in sequence, compare quality of 20 toasted slices.
• Take the toaster at the room temperature (about 70F), plug into home electric socket, toast 1 slice of bread in the 1st slot and 1 slice of bread in the 2nd slot simultaneously (standard exposure time). Without switching off the toaster repeat the procedure 20 times in sequence, compare quality of 40 toasted slices.
• If the toaster’s design provides options of different heating temperatures or exposure times, repeat cases 1 – 3 under all available (valid) combinations of options.
There may be variations of tosters’ designs: quantity of slots, differences between slots, gradual change of heating temperature, etc. Respectively, they must be taken in consideration in test cases.
3. Perform negative testing:
- Run usual toasting under low atmosphere pressure (high in mountains);
- Run usual toasting under vibration (onboard of a truck, a train, a ship, a plane)
- Run usual toasting under extra low and extra high levels of temperature (e. g. outdoors at the appropriate climate)
- Run usual toasting under extra low and extra high levels of humidity (e. g. outdoors at the appropriate climate)
- Run usual toasting under changing voltage and frequency of feeding AC.
- Run toasting of small pieces (1/8, ¼, ½ of standard size) of bread
- Toast two standard slices of bread in each slot simultaneously
- Toast slices of many different sorts of bread (including not designed to toast)
- Toast bread of poor quality (wet, wizened, moldy, making crumbs)
- Switch off and switch on feeding electricity during a usual process of toasting
- Pull out slices of bread during a usual process of toasting
- Switch on the toaster without bread and keep it switched on during standard exposition time. Repeat the procedure 10 times in sequence.
- Switch on the toaster without bread and put a slice of bread into each slot half of standard exposure time after the toaster is switched on.